Container for light-sensitive particulate solids

ABSTRACT

A container for light-sensitive particulate solids is generally cylindrical with opaque walls and top. The latter may be of any of the conventional dispensing types. The bottom, however, is of transparent material and is preferably in the form of a clear plastic plug. When stored normally on a shelf, the contents are shielded from light. However, when the container is removed temporarily from its position of rest on a horizontal surface, the contents may be observed through the transparent bottom.

United States Patent Casper 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] CONTAINER FORLIGHT-SENSITIVE PARTICULATE SOLIDS [72] Inventor: Lee A. Casper, 323Cherry Bend, Merion,

[22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 4,599

[52] US. Cl ..220/42 B, 206/4534, 220/82, 222/ 156, 229/7 R [51] Int. Cl..B65d 41/00 [58] Field of Search ..220/42 B, 82 R, 82 A; 206/4534,45.31; 222/480, 548, 563, 154, 156; 221/155; 215/7, 52', 229/7 R; D44/22[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D166,525 4/1952 Bliss..D44/22 2,528,948 11/1950 Cosmo.... ....220/42B 1,306,641 6/1919Steenstrup ..220/42B 2,872,031 2/1959 Lindberg ..229/5.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 536,756 12/1955 Italy ..215/48 540,84910/1941 England ..229/7 SC Primary Examiner-.loseph R. Leclair AssistantExaminerStephen P. Garbe Attorney-Barry Moyerman [5 7] ABSTRACT Acontainer for light-sensitive particulate solids is generallycylindrical with opaque walls and top. The latter may be of any of theconventional dispensing types. The bottom, however, is of transparentmaterial and is preferably in the form of a clear plastic plug. Whenstored normally on a shelf, the contents are shielded from light.However, when the container is removed temporarily from its position ofrest on a horizontal surface, the contents may be observed through thetransparent bottom.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnFiazz I972 3.643.831

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) I INVENTOR.

LEE A. CASPER 21 SE2 2m. TO NEY CONTAINER FOR LIGHT-SENSITIVEPARTICULATE SOLIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the InventionThe invention pertains to containers. More particularly, it relates todispensing containers for solid particulate materials which aresensitive to light.

2. Prior Art The storage of certain light-sensitive particulatematerials such as, for example, spices like parsley flakes, celeryflakes, chives and green onions, mixed vegetable flakes and dices, andred and green sweet peppers has traditionally presented problems. Ifglass jars are used, the shelf life of such materials is limited bychanges of color which cause the contents to lose their sales appealand, in some instances, their flavor. Tin cans and similar totallyopaque containers, while providing lightproof storage, do not permitdetermination of the amount of material within the container. Weight isseldom a good gauge since these materials often have a very low density.

Attempts to past labels with openings in them over glass containers,like all halfway measures, represent at best a compromise since lightcan still enter and, furthermore, the labels can become displaced.Further, materials such as cardboard are, in many applications,preferable to glass and do not provide any means for inspectioncontents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is adapted for use with generallycylindrical opaque containers such as are commonly used for solidparticulate materials, especially spices. Such containers generally havea top which is provided with dispensing means. A common expedient is toprovide the top with a knockout and then have a rotatable disc mountedover it, which contains several types of openings adapted to be placedin registration with the knockout. A representative container of thistype is shown in each ofU.S. Pat. Nos. 2,961,132 and 2,961,133.

According to the instant invention, such generally cylindricalcontainers are provided with a transparent bottom. With such a bottom,they can be stored in a lightproof configuration, as when they are on ashelf. However, when it is desired to determine what quantity ofmaterial is in them, the container need only be tilted so that itscontents can be observed through the bottom.

A preferable construction for the bottom is a hollow plug including adependent sleeve portion which frictionally engages the internal wallsof the container. It can be held in place solely by a friction fit orthe effect can be enhanced by glue and/or by the provision of aplurality of annular serrations, such as barbs. Such a constructionpermits full utilization of conventional containers and gives then anadded dimension of utility at negligible added cost.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a containerwhich is lightproof under normal storage conditions but which,nonetheless, pennits observation of its contents through a transparentbottom. This and other objects of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from a consideration of the description whichfollows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, wherein like referencenumerals designate like parts:

F IG. 1 represents a perspective view of a partially filled containerembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 on itsside in a position wherein the contents can be viewed.

FIG. 3 represents a fragmentary vertical section of the container ofFIG. 1, showing details of construction of the bottom.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, theembodiment shown includes a cylindrical container, generally A, which isprovided with a dispensing top B and a bottom C.

Container A includes walls 10, which terminate at their top in a rollededge 11. The container is made of any opaque, relatively strongmaterial, among which cardboard is preferred.

Top B is also opaque and may be of a wide variety of types. The oneshown is a common one and its construction is fully described in US Pat.No. 2,832,514 which is incorporated herein by reference. Such a topincludes a rotatable disc 12, which includes a plurality of holes 13 anda raised handle 14, with which disc 12 can be rotated.A knockout I5 isprovided in an inner seal (not shown) and, after it is removed, rotationof disc 12 brings one or more of holes 13 into registration with it topennit dispensing. The disc and seal are held in place by rolled edge11. This construction forms no part of my invention and is merely partof its milieu.

The bottom C is made of transparent material, preferably a clear plasticsuch as, for example, a polyvinyl chloride. The operation can be clearlyobserved by contrasting FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, the container is on a shelf 16 in an upright or normalstorage position. In this position, the particulate solid contents areshielded from light. However, there is no way of observing the contents.

In FIG. 2, the container has been placed on its side and it is nowpossible to observe the contents through bottom C. By manipulating thecontainer, it is also possible to make a quantitative estimate of thecontents, the position in FIG. 2 having been chosen merely as a matterof ease of representation.

Details of construction of a preferred bottom are shown in FIG. 3. Ascan be seen there, bottom C is in the form of a hollow plug, including adisc 20 which has at least the same diameter as the outside diameter ofcontainer A. The plug includes a dependent sleeve 21, which has anoutside diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter ofcontainer A and is adapted to frictionally engage walls 10. Friction maybe enhanced by providing a plurality of perimetrical annular barbs 22 onthe exterior of the sleeve. Entry of sleeve 21 into the container can befacilitated by providing it with a beveled end or leading edge 23.Adhesives may additionally be used, if desired, out of a superabundanceof caution.

While there has been shown and described above a specific embodiment ofthe invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept. Therefore, the same is not limited to the particular form shownand described herein except insofar as indicated by the appended claims.I

What is claimed is:

I. In an opaque cylindrical container for light-sensitive particulatesolids, a top-mounted opaque dispensing closure which can be changedfrom a sealing mode to a dispensing mode, and a permanently fixedtransparent one-piece bottom closure which, in the normal verticalstorage position of the container does not allow the entrance of lightbut which, when the container is tilted, permits observation of thecontents thereof across the entire internal cross section of saidcontainer.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said fixed transparent bottomclosure is a unitary hollow plug including an integral transparent flatdisc, having at least the same diameter as the outside diameter of thecontainer, and a dependent sleeve having an outside diameterapproximately equal to the internal diameter of the container, saidsleeve being mounted in direct contact with the interior of thecontainer and in frictional engagement with its walls.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the frictional engagement of saidsleeve portion is increased by providing it with a plurality of externalannular barbs.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the leading edge of said sleeveportion is beveled to facilitate insertion thereof into said container.

1. In an opaque cylindrical container for light-sensitive particulatesolids, a top-mounted opaque dispensing closure which can be changedfrom a sealing mode to a dispensing mode, and a permanently fixedtransparent one-piece bottom closure which, in the normal verticalstorage position of the container doEs not allow the entrance of lightbut which, when the container is tilted, permits observation of thecontents thereof across the entire internal cross section of saidcontainer.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said fixed transparentbottom closure is a unitary hollow plug including an integraltransparent flat disc, having at least the same diameter as the outsidediameter of the container, and a dependent sleeve having an outsidediameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the container,said sleeve being mounted in direct contact with the interior of thecontainer and in frictional engagement with its walls.
 3. The containerof claim 2 wherein the frictional engagement of said sleeve portion isincreased by providing it with a plurality of external annular barbs. 4.The container of claim 3 wherein the leading edge of said sleeve portionis beveled to facilitate insertion thereof into said container.